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HEADLINERS; Stern Stuff

To hear her critics tell it, W. Ann Reynolds runs the 19 campuses of California State University with an iron fist inside a steel glove. Dr. Reynolds, chancellor of the 335,000-student system since 1982, was accused earlier this year of verbal brutality in her treatment of Richard Butwell, who died of a heart attack two weeks after she suggested he resign as president of the Dominguez Hills campus. That accusation, made by the presidents of two other campuses, was among criticisms that were considered in a recent review by the Board of Trustees. She survived that one, as the trustees adopted an evaluation that characterized her job performance as ''noteworthy.''

The trustees are to meet again next week, however, to consider revising the chancellor's role.

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A version of this article appears in print on May 24, 1987, on Page 4004007 of the National edition with the headline: HEADLINERS; Stern Stuff. Order Reprints|Today's Paper|Subscribe